Before you read, I’d like to issue a content warning for sexual assault. I do not discuss this here, but one of the stories deals with the subject. It’s a somewhat explicit scene and it touches on the trauma after. I can’t remember the title of the story, but it’s the only one that has a nurse as a main character. Be aware of this before you read this one.
My first experience with Roxane Gay was Bad Feminist, a collection of essays examining feminism through mainstream media as well her own experience as a woman. It was a very interesting read that was recommended to me by a few BookTubers. They all had positive opinions. Finally, I decided to jump into the book. I loved it so much and decided to see what else she wrote.
Ayiti is her debut collection. It’s a combination of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. It all weaves together to explore the Haitian diaspora.
I personally know very little about Haiti. I’m originally from Dominican Republic. All I know is the history shared between both countries. It’s very interesting, but also very bloody.
As someone who only knows this about Haiti, it was very interesting to read. Gay paints a very interesting picture of the country, showing both the ugly and beautiful parts. It’s very raw and honest. It’s rare for me to read something this raw, but I hope to do so more in the future.
Overall, this is a great collection. I totally recommend it. I rated it four stars. It’s definitely one of my favorite collections.
Anexis Matos 
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